Methamphetamine: Extent of the Problem
The reasons for methamphetamine’s growing popularity stem not only from the
immediate effect upon the user—which I describe below—but also the relative ease of attaining
the chemicals to manufacture methamphetamine and sell it for profit.
Like any drug, we know that people use methamphetamine for a very simple reason: it
makes them feel good, at least in the immediate, short term. Users have described the initial
allure of methamphetamine as the short, intense rush followed by a sense of euphoria, extra
energy, increased libido, and sense of invulnerability lasting up to eight hours.
The medium and long term effects of methamphetamine, however, are nothing short of
devastating. Methamphetamine users begin to exhibit nervousness, paranoia, schizophrenia-like
symptoms, irritability, confusion, and insomnia. Along with increased use comes the propensity
for violence, erratic behavior, and often—partly due to association with other methamphetamine
users—fraudulent activity such as identity theft, forgery conspiracies, and car theft. There are
few more cruelly efficient means of aging an individual than using methamphetamine. Law
enforcement and treatment providers report chronic
methamphetamine users in their twenties who—in
addition to having wrinkled, leathery skin, few teeth
left, and open sores—appear to be in their fifties.
Psychologically, withdrawal from
methamphetamine produces depression that can last
for months. Both current and former
methamphetamine users can exhibit psychotic
symptoms that persist for years after the use has
ended.
